X-ray protective shield having an aperture for the passage of instruments manipulated by the operator



March 7, s NS X-RAY PROTECTIVE SHIELD HAVING AN APERTURE FOR THE PASSAGEOF INSTRUMENTS MANIPULATED BY THE OPERATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb.12, 1964 BY ff) i EYSJ I Mar 'ch 7, 1967 MANSKER PASSAGE OF INSTRUMENTSMANIPULATED BY THE OP RATOR Filed Feb. 12, 1964 E 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 March1967 J. 5. MANSKER 3,308,297

X-RAY PROTECTIVE SHIELD HAVING AN APERTURE FOR THE PASSAGE OFINSTRUMENTS MANIPULATED BY THE OF R Filed Feb. 12, 1964 E ATOR 4Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.' 26 fiJE/v/ ,0? M/VJ/KA'A 3 308,297 THE March7, 1967 J. s. MANSKER X-RAY PROTECTIVE SHIELD HAVING AN APERTURE FORPASSAGE OF INSTRUMENTS MANIPULATED BY THE OPERATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 4Filed Feb. 12, 1964 INVENTOR. Jasaw/ if, flaws/m? United States PatentOffice 3,308,297 Patented Mar. 7, 1967 This invention relates to new anduseful improvements in movable X-ray protective shields and moreparticularly to a barrier that permits the operator to remain adjacentthe patient while manipulating instruments within or on the patientthrough an elongated aperture and yet be maximally protected from theX-rays directed to the patient.

It is well known that over-exposure to X-ray is very critical, leadingto cancer, sterility, leukemia, shorter life-span, death, etc. and thatthe effect of multiple exposures are cumulative. This presents a seriousenough problem to patients who can possibly expect several X- rays in alifetime but far worse to the X-ray technician or physician who spends alifetime in almost daily operation of X-ray equipment.

Accordingly, various means of protecting the operators have beendeveloped including lead glass for viewing, leaded aprons and gloves forwearing and permanent leaded partitions behind which the operatorretires during exposure of the patient. Other devices have also beendeveloped but none previously provided maximum protection to theoperator while permitting him to remain and work with the patient duringexposure thereof.

Thus it is difficult to work with heavy-leaded gloves, much of the bodyis unprotected by tiring heavy-leaded aprons and permanent partitionsrequire absence of the operator at the critical time. Not only does thepatient feel apprehensive when the operator leaves, but many exposuresmust be repeated because of the operators absence, thus increasing theexposure time and risk to the patient. For example, in crystoscopicexamination of the urinary tract with radiographic dyes, the volume andpressure of the dye is critical. To compensate for the time lag betweeninjection and getting behind the protected partition, the operator mayinject too much, with consequent discomfort and/or damage to thekidneys. However, if too little is injected, the run-out may leaveinsufiicient contrast media before the exposure is made and require asubsequent exposure.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a portableprotective shield which permits the operator, without risk, to remainadjacent the patient.

It is also an object of this invention to provide such a shield thatpermits the operator, without risk, to manipulate instruments within thepatient at the time of exposure.

It is another object of this invention to provide such a shield thatpermits close proximity at all times, including exposure of the patientwithout risk to the operator.

I have found that a portable shield with a window, all of radiopaquematerial such as leaded materials of adequate thickness, width andheight sufiicient to protect the operator from principal or secondaryrays, can be provided with a working extension (generally verticallymovable) toward the patient of lesser width than the shield to permiteasy-access to the patient. The working extension is provided with anaperture through which instruments, such as catheters, scopes, needles,syringes, etc. may be manipulated. The aperture may be mounted in theshield without a workin extension but it is preferred to have theworking extension for convenience in placing items, hands and arms andis also preferable to have the aperture elongated, horizontally splitand mounted for universal movement.

With these and other objects and features in view, the nature of whichwill be more apparent, the invention will be more clearly understood byreference to the drawings, the accompanying detailed descripiton and theappended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the protective shield, togetherwith working extension constructed in accordance with this invention andshowing patient and doctor during the taking of an X-ray;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section of a detail on the lines 3---3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section view on the lines 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an instrument tray within the workingextension with parts broken away;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a detail of the instrument tray;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view on the lines 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a plan view partly in section of the lock on the instrumenttray;

FIG. 9 is an expanded perspective view of an elongated aperture slidablymountable in the instrument tray of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a baffie that may be used in the aperture ofFIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a modified elongated aperture that maybe slidably mounted in the tray or shield; and

FIG. 12 is a modified end for the tray.

Referring to the drawings, a doctor or X-ray technician is shown inposition behind the protective shield and a patient 11 in recliningposition on an X-ray table 12 and above the standard film holder 13. Inthe present case, the patient is shown in position for an examination ofthe urinary tract while employing a cystoscope with catheters, projectedthrough channel 50, FIG. 9.

The protective shield is provided with a front panel 14, which is oflead or is lead coated to provide maximum protection to the operator.The front panel as shown is of height and width to accommodate anoperator, and may be varied as may be desired. Side panels 15A and 15Bare provided, and these side panels may be either hinged to the frontpanel for lateral movement, or may be placed in fixed position,preferably at an angle of approximately from the front panel to providethe necessary protection and to allow for the patients posture as theentire unit is moved close to the patient at the time of operation Thefront panel 14 is preferably provided with a movable panel 16 whichcarries a fixed working extension 21 provided with a window 17 of leadedglass (which optionally may be in vertical panel 16). The movable panel16, which may be substantially the full width of the front panel 14 andmay vary in height, but which is preferably approximately two-thirds ofthe height of the front panel, is mounted for vertical movement invertical racks 18 fixed on either side of the front panel and runningsubstantially from top to bottom thereof. A pinion gear 18A mounted onthe movable panel 16, inside a gear box 19 with a reduction gear,controlled by handle 20 provides means for the operator to raise orlower the movable panel as desired. If desired, counterweights or othersimilar means may be employed to counterbalance the weight of themovable panel. Pulleys mounted on the front panel 14 and handles on themovable panel 16 may be substituted for 18A, 19 and 20 to verticallyadjust the movable panel and obviously the unit may be driven with amotor. The entire unit is mounted on a plurality of roller casters 37for port-ability.

Working extension or hood 21 has a front portion 22, which slopesdownwardly from the movable panel, and a pair of side shields 23 whichcover the area between the movable panel and the front portion 22 of thehood. The front portion of the hood and the two side portions are oflead or are lead coated to provide protection from the X-rays. The frontpanel of the hood is provided with a window 17 of leaded glass toprovide full view of the patient.

A movable tray 25, which is located immediately below and within thehood, is slidably mounted in the movable panel as shown in FIG, 2. Thistray is slidable horizontally to front and back on the sliders 26, andmay be moved outwardly beyond the outer edge of the front shield 22 bythe operator to change the instruments therein. The tray 25 has a front27, sides 28, a back 29, and a bottom 30. The front 27 is provided witha narrow port 31, cut therein, through which the operator may controlinstruments such as catheters during an examination of the patient 11.The back 29 of the tray is provided with a handle 32, for use by theoperator in moving the tray on the sliders. A release handle 33 locatedat one side of the back 29 of the tray provides means for locking thetray when in desired position, and when released, allows the tray to bemoved by sliding. Said release handle controls a lock 33A which swingsinto position in opening 33B in the side of the hood to lock the tray inthe desired position. To release the tray, the handle 33 is turned torelease lock 33A.

' In order that the operator can more easily work with the patient beingexamined, the front 27 of the tray may be hinged to the bottom 30, asshown in FIGURE 6, so as to swing outwardly to a horizontal position(dotted :lines, FIG. 1). Thus the operator may be free to work with theinstruments placed on the tray through the open front of the tray andwhen closed enjoys the protection provided by the hood from the harmfuldirect and secondary X-rays. To assure ease of maneuvering, the front 27of the tray is provided with hinges 34 having tension springs 35 bearingagainst the front 27, so as to maintain the front closed when in normalposition. A finger plate 36, mounted on the front of the tray, providesan easy means for the operator to push open the front when desired orpull forward when instruments are inserted.

Port 31 may be further restricted by the cylindrical aperture 50 shownin FIG. 9 which includes a lower lead unit 51 with a half cylinderconcavity 52 and an upper lead unit 53 with a matching half cylinderconcavity 54. Grooves 55 are provided in both units within which port 31slides to maintain the unity of the two units 51 and 53. The upper unitmay be slidably removed to introduce, remove and change the instrumentsbeing used :by the operator. The aperture 50 may be completelyrestricted by a lead plate 59 that is slidably removable from theaperture in a track defined by side rails 56 and bottom rail 57.However, if an instrument is placed in aperture 50, the plate will slideonly to the instrument to substantially close the port except for thespace occupied by the instrument. A plurality of plates having differentsize openings 58 may, of course, be provided that will fit the frame,all of which will obviously be made of radiation-impermeable material.

A further modified restriction for port 31 is that shown in FIG. 11 andincludes a split housing 60 adapted to slide into the port 31 by grooves64. Each half of the housing includes a half cylinder cavity 61 in whichis mounted a corresponding cylinder 62 provided with a half cylindricaldepression which mates with the opposing depression to form ahorizontally elongated cylindrical instrument passage 63. The cylinder62 is split so that the top half may be removed for insertion or removalof instruments within the passage. (Instruments is used herein broadlyto indicate any item that the operator may want to use, such ascatheters, infusion devices, scopes, needles, cannula lenses, syringes,to name only a few.) The cylinders 62, 62 are obviously mounted toprovide a fuller range of movement in the horizontal plane. Verticalmovement is permitted by vertical movement of panel 16. Universalmovement could be provided with two hemispheres mounted in completehemispheric cavities but generally universal movement is neitherrequired nor desired. Sufficient movement will be provided to permitmovement of instruments in observing and treating a patient with theapparatus as shown. A relatively small movement at this fulcrum will, ofcourse, permit wide movement of the distal end of an instrument withinor at a patient. A plate 59 is also preferably mounted on the housing 69in tracks not shown.

Although passages 50 and 63 are cylindrical, obviously any cross-sectionwill be acceptable. The critical feature is that the length of thepassage should be at least equal to the diameter (or longest measurementtransverse to the longitudinal axis) and preferably 1.33 times as long.As a practical matter, the diameter of the passage is preferably notover 0.75 in. but under special circumstances may not exceed about 1 in.In fact, the full diameter of the passage is seldom exposed because theplate 59 further restricts the effective aperture to about the size ofthe instrument being used. Furthermore, the instrument itself serves toblock or reflect X-rays into the lead walls. It will be appreciated thatprimary rays from the X-ray tubes useful beam will not be transmittedthrough passages 50 or 63 parallel to the longitudinal channel axis (seeFIG. 1) so that only rarely secondary reflected rays are involved. Ifany secondary rays are parallel to the channel axis, they would strikethe instrument and be deflected into the lead channel wall where theywould be absorbed.

The tray 25 may be completely removed and the opening in hood 21 coveredby a flexible lead-impregnated material (e.g. Leadtex) 66 shown in FIG.12 which is provided with an aperture 67. With this modification, thepatient may remain behind the shield and extend a leg, arm or headthrough the aperture 67, which would be particularly applicable toinfants, thus reducing the total body radiation and permitting aprotected operator to hold the infant during exposure. In addition, thepatient from the front of the shield may extend an arm or leg throughthe opening for injection (as for angiography) or other purposes.Obviously aperture 67 can be changed as needed and could be a mere slitin the fabric.

I claim:

1. A portable protective X-ray shield to be positioned between theportion of the patient being exposed and the operator where the patientand operator are adjacent each other except for said shield comprisingan X-ray opaque panel of sufiicient dimensions to protect said operator,said panel being provided with an elongated instrument aperturetherethrough not greater than about one inch in diameter and having alength at least 1.33 times said diameter for the passage of instrumentstherethrough from the operators side and having its longitudinal axisdisposed at an angle with respect to the path of travel of X-rays from asource thereof, said aperture being lined With X-ray opaque material.

2. A portable protective X-ray shield to be positioned between theportion of the patient being exposed and the operator where the patientand operator are adjacent each other except for said shield comprisingan X-ray opaque panel of suflicient dimensions to protect said operator,said panel having an X-ray opaque hood extending'toward said patient formanipulation of instruments and including a front wall parallel to andspaced from said panel, said wall being provided with an elongatedinstrument aperture therethrough not greater than about 0.75 inch indiameter and having a length at least equal to said diameter, saidaperture being lined with X-ray opaque material.

3. The shield of claim 2 wherein an X-ray opaque plate is slidablymounted adjacent said aperture to cover said aperture if desired.

4. The shield of claim 2 wherein said length is at least 1.33 times saiddiameter.

5. The shield of claim 2 wherein the elements defining said aperture aresplit on a horizontal plane for removal and insertion of instruments.

6. The shield of claim 2 in which said front wall is defined by thefront wall of an instrument tray slidably mounted Within said hood.

7. The shield of claim 2 wherein said hood is movable in a verticalplane.

8. The shield of claim 7 wherein said aperture is mounted for rotationthrough a horizontal plane.

9. The shield of claim 7 wherein said aperture extends through avertically extending cylinder that is mounted for rotation in a spacedparallel pair of elongated concave members.

10. A portable protective X-ray shield to be positioned between theportion of the patient being exposed and the operator where the patientand operator are adjacent each other except for said shield comprisingan X-ray opaque panel of sufiicient dimensions to protect said operator,said panel having an X-ray opaque hood extending toward said patient formanipulation of instruments and including a front wall parallel to andspaced from said panel, said wall including a flexible sheet of X-rayopaque material having an aperture therethrough.

11. The shield of claim 10 wherein said aperture is adapted to fitaround a human limb extending therethrough.

12. The shield of claim 10 wherein said aperture is a circle.

13. The shield of claim 10 wherein said aperture is a slit.

14. The shield of claim 10 in which said front wall is defined by thefront wall of an instrument tray slidably mounted within said hood.

15. A movable shield for protection against harmful rays, comprising avertical central panel and side members of X-ray opaque material, afront panel of X-ray opaque material mounted in said central panel formovement upwardly or downwardly, said panel having a centrally locatedprotective hood of X-ray opaque material extending outwardly at an anglefrom the central panel, said hood having a bottom and integralprotective side shields of X-ray opaque material and a top including atransparent area of X-ray protective material, a movable tray slidablymounted under said hood and having a front of X-ray opaque material,sides, a back and a bottom, said front having a port therein toaccommodate medical instruments and being hinged to the bottom of thetray, and means cooperating with said tray to lock it in fixed position.

16. The shield of claim 15 additionally comprising means for controllingthe vertical position of said front panel and means for controlling thehorizontal movement of said tray.

17. The shield of claim 15 additionally comprising roller means mountedon said vertical panel to provide mobility.

18. The shield of claim 15 wherein a block is mounted in said port, saidblock having an elongated instrument aperture therethrough not greaterthan about 0.75 inch in diameter and having a length at least equal tosaid diameter, said aperture being lined with X-ray opaque material.

19. The shield of claim 18 wherein an X-ray opaque plate is slidablymounted adjacent said aperture to cover said aperture if desired.

References (Iited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,907,523 5/1933 Egressi et al 250-108 1,936,342 11/1933 Waite 250-78 FOREIGNPATENTS 1,128,950 5/1962 Germany.

RALPH G. NH.SON, Primary Examiner.

A. L. BIRCH, Assistant Examiner.

15. A MOVABLE SHIELD FOR PROTECTION AGAINST HARMFUL RAYS, COMPRISING AVERTICAL CENTRAL PANEL AND SIDE MEMBERS OF X-RAY OPAQUE MATERIAL, AFRONT PANEL OF X-RAY OPAQUE MATERIAL MOUNTED IN SAID CENTRAL PANEL FORMOVEMENT UPWARDLY OR DOWNWARDLY, SAID PANEL HAVING A CENTRALLY LOCATEDPROTECTIVE HOOD OF X-RAY OPAQUE MATERIAL EXTENDING OUTWARDLY AT AN ANGLEFROM THE CENTRAL PANEL, SAID HOOD HAVING A BOTTOM AND INTEGRALPROTECTIVE SIDE SHIELDS OF X-RAY OPAQUE MATERIAL AND A TOP INCLUDING ATRANSPARENT AREA OF X-RAY PROTECTIVE MATERIAL, A MOVABLE TRAY SLIDABLYMOUNTED UNDER SAID HOOD AND HAVING A FRONT OF X-RAY OPAQUE MATERIAL,SIDES, A BACK AND A BOTTOM, SAID FRONT HAVING A PORT THEREIN TOACCOMMODATE MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS AND BEING HINGED TO THE BOTTOM OF THETRAY, AND MEANS COOPERATING WITH SAID TRAY TO LOCK IT IN FIXED POSITION.